THE new defence minister is to be courted by unions and councillors in the latest bid to save 300 jobs at the Longtown MoD depot – including 100 Annandale and Eskdale staff.

Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell this week met Phillip Dunne MP, who replaced Peter Luff, to make the case for keeping the site open.

And he has promised to attend a meeting at the site soon.

Last month, Mr Luff visited the site to meet MPs, workers, union reps and councillors who have campaigned for six years for the munitions store to be retained as its future is considered under a defence review.

Civil servants want it closed and claim it will cost £250 million to modernise, but campaigners argue that although it needs updating it can be done at a fraction of that cost.

Its closure would have a serious economic impact on the area. Assurances have been given that no decision has been made yet but an announcement is imminent.

Annandale and Eskdale workers make up a third of the workforce at Longtown since the high-security coastal ammunition storage site at Eastriggs was mothballed in 2010 and its staff transferred.

Mr Mundell, who has been leading the campaign with fellow MPs, said: “Given that we have a new Minister, I thought it was essential to ensure he was fully up to speed with issues around the Longtown site and the importance of jobs there to the local economy.

“It was a very constructive discussion. I was pleased at how well briefed Mr Dunne was and that he had all Mr Luff’s feedback from his visit in August.

“I was particularly grateful to the Minister for his willingness to meet trade union reps and councillors to hear the excellent case they have put together for keeping the depot open. I hope that meeting takes place soon.”

He added: “It has been a long haul to get to this point, but everyone involved in the fight to retain MoD Longtown needs to keep the effort going as we enter the final stage of the decision-making process.”